If you trade freedom for security you neither deserve nor get either. But whether you trade or not, in the end you are the one who makes the choice and it is you and you alone who is responsible for both the decision and the outcomes associated with it Dr. Tom Olson

If you want to walk on water, you have to get off the beach! Dr. Tom Olson

As a professional speaker and trainer, I've often been asked about the availability of my books, tapes or videos. "Don't have any," I say. "I've been too busy training and speaking to write but I do plan to get around to it someday."

Well someday arrived and I had to make good on that promise. I'd been making noises about writing something for so long someone (it could have been my wife) finally challenged me to do it. I think the exact words were something like "put-up or shut-up!" And because I thought writing would be easier than not talking, I made my way to the keyboard, sketched out some ideas and began converting my thoughts to words.

And I wish I'd done it years ago. It's been fun and, as immodest as it may sound, I actually like what's come out!

This is not a book in the traditional sense. Rather it's a collection of essays on topics that inspired the greatest interest and/or response in my training or speaking sessions.

What are these about? Well, the unifying theme is best described by this quote from a speech Theodore Roosevelt gave at the Sorbonne in 1910:

"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood, who strives valiantly, who errs and comes short again and again because there is no effort without error and shortcomings, who knows the great devotion, who spends himself in a worthy cause, who at best knows in the end the high achievement of triumph and who at worst, if he fails while daring greatly, knows his place shall never be with those timid and cold souls who know neither victory nor defeat."

Success is in the arena. My experience is that many people want to be in there, that our latter-day culture of entitlement, victimhood and fear frustrates them and they would like to take more personal responsibility for the events of their lives. It is those for whom I've written this collection. This book is about the relationship between success and the power of personal responsibility.

Although I don't expect those in the psychological or psychiatric community to read this book, should it fall into the hands of a professional from one of these groups, I expect it will be received poorly. Why? Because the lessons of this book are taught not by professionals or always supported by mountains of academic research. Rather, they are based on the experiences of successful people that I have had the pleasure of knowing throughout my life-people from all walks of life who have achieved great things and through words and deeds have taught others to do the same.

Apart from meeting the "put-up or shut" up challenge, I had a few other reasons for putting this tome together. One, I thought it would give my children with some insight into how I actually make a living. For years the answer the question "What is it again that your father does?" has eluded them. I hope this will help.

And, because I'm not altogether altruistic, I'd like to make a dollar or two from all this effort. To that end, we offer training; speaking and various audio-video products based on the book's content. If you're interested in any of this please refer to the appropriate menu item on this site or call 1-403-247-1342 or e-mail me and I'll be happy to provide you with the details.

In the words of Oliver Wendell Holmes, "It is a good plan to have a book with you in all places at all times. If you are presently without, hurry without delay and buy one of mine!"

The book is in production and will be available in July 2004. Buy now and you'll receive a signed copy at pre-publication discount-delivered to your door of course! If you want to try before you buy, click here for some snippets from each part of the book.

If you're interested in buying a number of copies we offer bulk discounts.

And just to let you know that I'm not a heartless mercenary, three charities, The Cancer Society, Samaritan's Purse and the Heart/Stroke Foundation will each receive a portion of the profit from this book and any of the products and services related to it.